Meliá Koh Samui, Thailand: The resort with the biggest swimming pool in Koh Samui

It's a big call, but Spanish hotel group Meliá is laying claim to the title of largest swimming pool in Koh Samui, Thailand.

The 159 rooms and 41 suites of the spanking new Meliá Koh Samui are set around a lagoon pool that meanders in a loop around the beachfront property, and also has a two-level 1000-square-metre pool. If that's not enough water, the new hotel overlooks Choeng Mon Beach and the Gulf of Thailand, for more blue views.

To keep the marine theme going, its Boat Suites are set in an original teak rice barge, divided into rooms from 91 to 100 square metres, each with balconies or direct pool access.

The rest of the rooms start from the deluxe, at 51 square metres with a bathtub on its private balcony. The family suites are double that size, sleeping a maximum of five people, with sofas, a dining table and family games supplied, if the mini water park doesn't cut it. Taking it up to the next level, literally, The Level is the hotel's club level, with a private lounge serving breakfast, canapés and coffee.

The restaurants include the Boat Bar, with its sustainability bent, offering raw, organic and zero-kilometre food to offset the all-day international kitchen, the Spanish tapas, Portuguese petiscos and Mexican ceviche served in the pool bar, and the degustation menu in the signature restaurant.

This being Thailand, lavish kids' clubs and spas are par for the course, and if all that blue water gets too much, take a hotel shuttle in to the shopping malls and night markets.

This is the first hotel in Thailand for the Spanish group, which also has eyes on developments in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

Travellers from Australia should change in Singapore or Bangkok for the fastest flight connections on to Koh Samui, and the hotel is less than 15 minutes from the airport. Rooms start from THB6768 including breakfast and taxes, check its website for opening specials. See melia.com